India - Mayapur project

This project, called Jhanavi Kunja, is placed just next to the Ganges river, 4 hours ride north of Calcutta in West Bengal. It breathes the beauty of simple living and high thinking and this is where you will be staying of you come here. The program here is quite flexible, as the number of volunteers and their abilities and interests vary. The projects that volunteers will be engaged in (according to their interest and according to what is urgent for the moment) are:

Practical cleaning of chosen areas

Many (almost all) areas are inundated by plastic. Previously, India was the best recycling nation, with leaf plates and clay cups and dry toilet systems. But the effects of globalisation has brought to india an inundation with plastics, in form of bags, emballage, bottles, cups and plates, now even the areas that are concidered holy are being polluted and the cow, that for so long and still is concidered holy, has a diet of plastic bags and garbage.

So in this Mayapur project we have dedicated to clean up some chosen places to show people and educate how much the atmosphere and beauty of a landscape/village changes when garbage is taken care of and is not laying around everywhere. The desire to change is the first step, and we see that is must come from witnessing and experiencing the difference.

Education - sustainable alternatives

We invite for lectures focused on a sustainable lifestyle, on supporting local villagers etc etc. Similar to the work that Ghandi started many years ago but that was drowned when TV invaded India with the american dream. You may also according to your interest also help local children by teaching them english and to value a sustainable lifestyle.

Food distribution

Very often in India there is a reason to celebrate. You will be amazed to see that there is almost every week some special day. These days, and other days as well, vegetarian foods are distributed and for sure this is something you can help out with.

Extra opportunities for you

Ofcourse, since you are in India, you have the great opportunity to learn the practical and deeper aspects of Yoga. All around the area there are alot of people singing bhajans (hindu songs). Learn indian music instruments. Opportunities vary.

Since Jhanavikunja also is functioning as an ashram we ask you to refrain from drugs, sex and any type of meat (meat, fish, eggs).

What you need to bring:

- Sleeping bag, sleeping mat, blankets, mosqito repellent, sun block and a hat for the sun.

- Personal hygiene articles to wash yourself and toilet paper, too.

How to come here - by Train

• From Howrah station (twin city of calcutta)

  If you are catching a train at Howrah, a clean and less-crowded train to catch is Intercity express, which leaves Howrah at about 3pm (the train does not operate on Sundays.) It reaches Nabadwip Dham by about 5:45pm.

  There are trains leaving Howrah and which pass through Nabadwip Dham, practically every hour and a half, but they are sometimes quite crowded. It takes about 3 - 4 hours to reach Nabadwip Dham from Howrah.

  Once you reach Nabadwip Dham station, you have to take a rikshaw to Mayapur Ghat and then get on a boat to cross over the Ganga to reach Hular Ghat at Mayapur. Take a rikshaw to come to our farm.
  

• From Sealdah station

  Sealdah is a train station located within Kolkata. There are trains leaving Sealdah and which pass through Krishnanagar. Usually these trains are crowded. It takes about two hours to reach Krishnanagar from Sealdah.

  From Krishnanagar, you can catch a rikshaw to go to the bus terminal (“bus stand”) and catch a bus to Mayapur. Or, you can get into a three-wheeler to go to Mayapur Ghat in Swarup Ganj (where Bhaktivinoda Thakura used to live), get on a boat to cross over the Jalangi river to reach Hular Ghat at Mayapur. Then take a rikshaw to come to the farm.

Train ticketing

If you need to book train ticket, you can do it yourself directly from Indian Railways official online booking website at http://www.irctc.co.in (free registration required). Usualy you have to do booking 1-2 months in advance, especially for popular routes and periods. If you are unable to do advance booking and for all the trains all general quota tickets are already booked, still you have chance to get some extra tickets from TatKal quota, for which booking starts 4 days before the train. TatKal quota tickets will cost you Rs.150 extra.

Alternatively you can also contact us for booking train tickets and taxis:

Contact:

Phone: +91-0565-2443932 or +91-9800496392
E-mail: vrindakunja(at)gmail.com

If you receive no answer neither by phone nor email you can always email: vasudeva.das(at)gmail.com